English Standard Version
2 Kings 4:14
14And he said, "What then is to be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old."
2 Kings 4:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.
- New International Version (NIV)“What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Later Elisha asked Gehazi, “What can we do for her?” Gehazi replied, “She doesn’t have a son, and her husband is an old man.”
Context of 2 Kings 4:14
12And he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." When he had called her, she stood before him. 13And he said to him, "Say now to her, 'See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?'" She answered, "I dwell among my own people." And he said, "What then is to be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old." 15He said, "Call her." And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16And he said, "At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant."
Read all of 2 Kings 42 Kings 4:14 word by word
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר וּמֶ֖ה לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת לָ֑הּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גֵּיחֲזִ֗י אֲבָ֛ל בֵּ֥ן אֵֽין־לָ֖הּ וְאִישָׁ֥הּ זָקֵֽן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Kings 4:14
- Genesis 15:2But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"
- Genesis 17:17Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?"
- Genesis 18:10The Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.
- Genesis 25:21And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
- Genesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I shall die!"
- Judges 13:2There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children.
- 1 Samuel 1:2He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
- Luke 1:7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
Commentaries on 2 Kings 4:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14What then is to be done for her? - It seems that the woman retired as soon as she had delivered the answer mentioned in the preceding verse.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-17Verses 8-17 Elisha was well thought of by the king of Israel for his late services; a good man can take as much pleasure in serving others, as in raising himself. But the Shunammite needed not any good offices of this kind. It is a happiness to dwell among our own people, that love and respect us, and to whom we are able to do good. It would be well with many, if they did but know when they are really well off. The Lord sees the secret wish which is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-14Elisha wanted to repay his host's kindness. Gehazi his servant: Gehazi was Elisha's apprentice, just as Elisha had been with Elijah (1 Kings 19:21). It was common for a prophet to seek advice from his assistant.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1613-16. what is to be done for thee?--Wishing to testify his gratitude for the hospitable attentions of this family, he announced to her the birth of a son "about this time next year." The interest and importance of such an intelligence can only be estimated by considering that Oriental women, and Jewish in particular, connect ideas of disgrace with barrenness, and cherish a more ardent desire for children than women in any other part of the world (Ge…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Kings 4:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Kings 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries